OAKLAND – Residents and visitors to Oakland will be able to park for free in the city on every Saturday between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to city officials.

The free parking is being offered at street meters and at four city-owned parking lots and four city-owned garages in an effort to stimulate shopping in Oakland’s commercial districts.

Parking will also be free on Plaid Fridays on Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, city officials said.

Plaid Friday is Oakland’s effort to encourage consumers to shop at local outlets instead of chain stores on “Black Friday.”

To keep the flow of shoppers moving, time limits will still be enforced at the meters, lots and garages, city officials said.

The free parking will take place at the Grand Avenue lot in the 3200 block of Grand Avenue, the LakePark Lot between Grand and Lakeshore avenues, the Piedmont Avenue lot on Howe Street between 40th and 41st streets and the Parkway lot on Wayne Avenue near Park Boulevard.

The four city-owned garages with free parking will be the Frank Mar Garage at 12th and Harrison streets, the Franklin Street Garage at 19th and Franklin streets, the Montclair Garage at 6235 La Salle Ave. and the Clay Street Garage at 14th and Clay streets.